Family Workboxes for Young Children: Part 2

The 2^nd step  in creating a successful learning environment was to read about Sue Patrick’s Workbox System. I went over and over the idea in my head and couldn’t figure out how to make it work with a Charlotte Mason style education and children who cannot yet read well. My solution is a Family Workbox System. We have one set of boxes and work through them together. Sometimes we work on a lesson together and sometimes there are two sets of materials in the box like copywork for one and a math lesson for the other. Regardless, all materials for that time period are included.

Which brings me to the 3^rd step—organization. I bought a shelf for $20 and use it to store books and manipulatives that we are working with this semester. Math books, file folder games, glue, crayons, even current library books. When it is time to prepare for the next day’s lessons, everything should be right there, ready to be placed in a workbox.

We start our school day with morning chore charts. These are in a page protector and paired with a dry erase marker. At first the kids checked off jobs as completed but since the lists are short, they now know what to do and only needed to read over the list to make sure nothing was forgotten. I have two for each child for alternating days of the week. This keeps them from arguing about who gets to fill the cat's water bowl or the dog's water bowl and if they have to put away clothes or dishes.

Today's special kit is a shape pattern puzzle.

Hopefully they have already completed everything but as they look over the list, they have a chance to catch up on work that they missed. Anyone who is already done with morning chores at 8am gets to work on the special kit included in the Workbox 1. I try to mix it up and surprise them—pattern blocks, magnets, holiday craft, a new Kindle App, maps. Something to help them have fun learning.